Cost of gun ownership, ammo, and practice versus other activities

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A9B270F6-02FD-4EB5-9EC9-0D3156125A0A.jpeg My longest standing hobby/passion. Music. Been playing instruments since I was maybe 7. Took a bachelors degree worth of music classes but was missing one ensemble requirement that would have extended being in college another year. Hence, I graduated instead with a music minor (double the size of a normal minor) instead of a double major. But, 15 odd college music classes aren't cheap. It was at public university, but that’s easily worth two years of study. Then all the festivals, concerts over the years. Most major music festivals are $400 a pop. Rolling Stones was $180 in 2019. Etc.

Good instruments aren’t cheap either.
 
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Ammos the most expensive part of It for me, I think I’m paying $16 a box right now for 9mm. I pay $200 a year for unlimited lane usage at a local indoor range, versus paying $20 per lane per visit as a non member, I go 1-2 times a week so I get my moneys worth.
 
Rubone said:
Aren't profit and hobby mutually exclusive terms??
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True that. While I've realized the losses on 99% of my hobbies I may never see the profit on my firearms. I could sell my boat for half of what I paid for my guns and my guns for half again what I paid for my boat. Not that any are for sale....well maybe the boat.
 
Autodidactic said:
Good morning,

I'm sure many of us have considered often the yearly cost of both owning firearms and training to become proficient with them. It's definitely not cheap. I personally sometimes feel a bit guilty when I buy that one impractical gun I always wanted (derringer). I have a .380 Bodyguard on hold for $220, and get that ping of guilt for sticker cost.

But you know, I think too sometimes these purchases aren't put into the context of other major activities or hobbies. For example, I'm going skiing with my kid today and even with a reduced cost pass and reduced rentals, it will probably cost $150 for the both of us today. We went skiing in Lake Tahoe in California three days before Christmas, and passes and rentals for the both of us cost us probably $250. Many other hobbies are expensive, from golf to world travel. Cars, etc. Often people will ask why people collect firearms, i.e. have more than 1-2. However, people collect far less useable items such as art pieces or even superhero figures.

Also, firearms can serve necessary purposes, from hunting to self defense. Not all hobbies or pursuits serve such a purpose.
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When I occasionally calculate the cost of my girlfriends compared to my firearms .... firearms are cheap. Especially the dark haired green eyed one.

But when I compare the cost of my wife to the guns and girlfriends .....
 
I was head long into snowmobiles for over 25 years. Sleds, go-fast parts, suspension parts, covered trailers. trucks to tow, fuel, it never ended.
Firearms and ammo are not cheap, but its a year round hobby, and you can control the costs by how much you actually shoot. There are ways to minimizes costs as well by shooting .22 or reloading, casting, etc.



-Jeff
 
I find that firearms as a hobby have an unusual cost structure.
The firearms themselves, are for the most part, investments. They almost always pace inflation, and well chosen ones earn a return. So buying the firearms is not really a cost so much as an investment, you can sell and generally not loose anything. I liken this part to coin collecting as a hobby, you can enjoy them without really fearing a major loss.
Ammo is a consumable, so it is the bad end of the hobby cost wise, you cannot recoup any significant portion of that cost once its been shot. I liken this to travel as a hobby, buy an airplane ticket and the money is gone.
The financially sound approach then would be to buy many firearms and not shoot them, or at least not shoot them a great deal. Personally I find that there are decreasing marginal returns of utility for each additional shot I take so this works, but others may have a different utility function.
 
Jimbo80 said:
Guitars can be a lot like guns. If you bought new back in the day some of them have appreciated like crazy.
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For sure, and like firearms, musical instruments if quality can last a long time. There are violins that are 200 years old that still work, and maybe sound even better. Guitars with quality wood can sound better as they age, not worse.

History of Stradivarius Violins - Stradivarius.org
 
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Autodidactic said:
For sure, and like firearms, musical instruments if quality can last a long time. There are violins that are 200 years old that still work, and maybe sound even better. Guitars with quality wood can sound better as they age, not worse.

History of Stradivarius Violins - Stradivarius.org
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Yep. My father carries a 1911 that his grandfather bought when returning from WW2, it’s been passed down ever since, will one day be mine. The gun still looks surprisingly good for how old it is, it’s always been well taken care of.
 
Ohh man I assume just not think or ask this question. Good thing the GF is a shooter as well. then the cost is not a worry for her.. haha:)
I was taught by my father, that when your doing a project never add the reciepts up until the finish point. your less likely to cut corners on cheap materials or parts. I guess shooting could be in the wheelhouse of this advice.
 
Its painfully expensive hobby, specially in country where criminality is low and where even after two years of pandemic still isnt even one zombie...

Since we now have energetic crysis (btw, thanks for LNG shipments :D ) costs of shooting ranges went bananas and i its more than month and half from my last shooting seasson...
 
Money isn't everything. In fact, it distorts our lives, our sense of fulfillment, our self worth and our use of time. I hope someday we can come up with better metrics. Meanwhile, if it brings a smile to my face and takes some of the stoop out of my shoulders, it is worthwhile to me regardless of $$.
 
rust collector said:
Money isn't everything. In fact, it distorts our lives, our sense of fulfillment, our self worth and our use of time. I hope someday we can come up with better metrics. Meanwhile, if it brings a smile to my face and takes some of the stoop out of my shoulders, it is worthwhile to me regardless of $$.
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That's why I agree with others that as long as someone is meeting their basic financial responsibilities, then their enjoyment beyond that is their business. Life is to be lived. None of us get out alive.
 
What other activities?

Only Krav Maga classes twice per week, plus jogging remain.
Class costs for Krav average out to a lower cost than typical averages into gun buying plus ammo.
 
[QUOTE="Encoreman,]don't worry about the $$$, because you can't take it with you!!![/QUOTE]

I plan on having a gold coin and a PPK in the coffin with me.
 
tarosean said:
Dont know about that.. When tax payers have to foot the bill it becomes others business
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You mean like welfare or food stamps or similar? Should a person that gets government assistance have to sell their guns before seeking help?
 
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